Adjustable light-holding means



' 1645,52? Oct. 189 D. D. GORDON ET AL ADJUSTABLE LIGHT HOLDING MEANS Filed June 8. 1925 Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,645,527 PATENT oFFlcE.-

DAvID D. GORDON AND WILLIAM LINDSAY, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOBS T0 ncoNonY rusa AND MANUFAGTURING COMPANY, or'cm'cAeo, ILLINOIS, A coa- PORATION 0F NEW YORK.

ADJUSTABLE LIGHT-HOLDING MEANS.

Application med :une `s, 1925. serial No. 35,506.

1 simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object is to provide an electric light holding means in which ready adjustability is -had without the twisting of wires and wi hout sacrifice of good electric conductivity between the source of electrical current and the electric lights carried b v said holding means. I

A further object is to provide an electric li ht cluster having switch means for independently controlling eachsocketin said cluster, which cluster involves aminimum of parts.

A- further object is to provide an electric` light cluster in which the various lights' are readily and' independently adjustable and which will remain in adjusted positions.

Further objects will appear' as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation ofk an j electric light cluster embodying the principles'of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a View in elevation taken at right angles to the view shown in Figure l; Figure 3 is a view of one of the detachable parts of the construction shown in Figures l and 2; j

'Figure 4 is a view of a detachable part which is complementary -to the part shown in Figure 3 and Figure 5 is a view of a detail of construction.

Though the invention has a broad application and is applicable to holders for single lights as well as clusters, it will be illustrated and described in connection with a cluster suitable foruse in a floor lamp.C Due to they fact that various sizes and shapes of lamp shades are in common use, it is desirable vto provide a lamp cluster which permits-angular adjustment of the electric light bulbs relative to the standard of said Hoor lamp. With certain varieties of shade said electric light bulbs should be moved into rather close proximity with said standard, whereas with other types of shade said electric light bulbs should be adjusted to a position to have as great a spread as possible relative to said standard. I'

In the drawings the numeral '1 indicates a tube forming part of a standard, which standard may be part of a floor lamp. Said tube houses the electric wires 2 and 3, which 4 constitute the electric supply wires of said lamp. The upper extremity of the tube 1 is screw-threaded for the reception of the nut 4. The nut 4 has a part ofvits exterior of nonlcircular conformation, ahexagonal conformation being illustrated in the drawings.

Mounted in position to enclose the nut 4 is the housing 5, which housing comprises the two complementary sections 6 and 7. Said section smay be identical in conformationand are .preferably composed of molded insulating material. vSaid two sections. 6 and 7 have cooperating at surfaces adapted to engage one another, and each of said sections is provided with recesses, to be referred to more in detail, for receiving the operating parts of the cluster.

Each of the sections and 7 is provided with a recess 8 for the reception of switch mechanism, which switch mechanism is ill- `dicated as a wholeby the numeral 10. The

lamp cluster illustrated'is adapted to support two electric light bulbs or other translating devices, and in order to independently control said :two bulbs or other translating devices two independently' operable switch mechanisms l0 are provided. .The detailsy of said switch mechanisms 10 are not part of the present invention. Preferably, however, they are of the type which are biased selectively to circuit-closing and circuit-opening positions. Each section 6 and 7 is provided with a chain guide 11, eachl of which accommodates a chain 12. Said chains 12- 12 extend to regions in which theyl may be conveniently operated. Preferably, alternate pulls on either' of said chains will bias the corresponding switch mechanism to opencircuiting or closed-circuiting position.-

Each of the switch mechanisms 10--10 has a' contact spring 13 extendin therefrom. When the two sections 6 and are placed together, said contact springs 1313 will engage 'one another. One of said contact springs is permanently connected to the wire with the longitudinal center lines 3, so that one side of each of the switchingl mechanisms -10 is always connectedI in circuit. The other side of each of the switching mechanisms 10-10 is provided with the conducting strip 14, which conducting strips 14--14 haveportions 1515 each adapted to receive and have electrical connection with one of the pins'16-16, each of which pins 16-16 is socketed at its two ends in the sections 6 and 7. As will be explained hereinafter, the two pins 16-16 are adapted to perform the' double function of forming abutments for the center contact on an electric light plug and to provide electrical connection with said center contact.

vEach of the sections 6 and 7 is also provided with a pair of recesses 17-17, which recesses have circumferential walls 18-18 lying in arcs having their axes coinciding of the pins 16-16. The two recesses 17-17 in each part 6 and 7 are divided by the partition 19, which partition is provided with the recess 20 shaped to conform to the nut 4. When the two sections 6 and 7 are mounted together, the partitions 19-19 hold the nut 4 against either rotary or longitudinal movement. Said partitions 19-19 of the two sections 6 and 7 are grooved, as indicated by the numeral 21, to permit the passage of the electric wires 2 and 3.

The recesses 17--17 have communication with'the outside of the housing 4 .through the elongated slots 22-22. Carried by the partitions 19-19 is a metallic electrical conducting member 23, which has the forked portions 2/ 1-24disposed within the recesses 17-17. Mounted within the slots 22-22 are the sockets 25-25, which sockets are screw-threaded for the reception of the ordinary plug forming part of an electric bulb or other translating devices. Said sockets have shoulder portions 26-26 adapted to have sliding relationship with the arcuate walls 18-18 and with the forked portions 24-24 of the electrical conducting member 23. The electric wire 2 is velectrically connected to the electrical conducting `member' 23, It will be apparent without further description that one side of the outside electrical circuit 4is connected at all times to the g sockets 25-25 by way of the electrical'conducting member 23. Each of said sockets 25-25 is open at both ends, whereby-an electric light may be screwed up\ into each of said sockets to a position in which the center contact of said electric light bulb will be forced into engagement with the corresponding pin 16. The two sections Gand 7 may be held together by means of screw bolts 28 28. If desired, an ornamental knob 29 may be clamped between -said sections 6 and 7. Inasmuch as the pins 16-16 are connected to terminals of the switching mecha- 10-10 and the other terminals of said.

switching mechanisms 10-10 are connected by vway of the contact springs 13--13 to the,

capable -of a rocking movement within the recesses 17-17. The shoulders 26 of the sockets 25-25 have rubbing engagement with the electrical conducting member 23,

whereby a good electrical connection between each of said sockets and the electrical conducting member 23 is had regardless of the positions of sockets 25. When a bulb 27 is screwed home in one of the sockets 25, the center contact of said bulb will abut with some force against the corresponding pin 16, a spring action being had due to the action and reaction between the internal screwthreads of each socket 25 and the corresponding pin 16. Due to the pressure exerted, each socket is frictionally held in place. Angular adjustment ofeach socket is possible. however, through the exertion of a slight amount of force.

The present invention provides a construction which may be manufactured at small cost, which may be readily assembled and which affords a read means for holding an electric lamp bulb rictionally in adjusted position. Though avpreferred embodiment cations will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cluster comprising a housing having a plurality ofv recesses, each having an arculob that fall within the scope of the appended ate wall, electrical conducting 'members y mounted at the axes of each of said arcuate walls, and socket members mounted in each of said recesses and capable of movement about said axes.

2. A cluster comprising a housing having recesses provided. with arcuate walls, said housing being provided with slots providing communication between said recesses and the exterior of said housing, electrical conducting means arranged along said walls, and.

socket members :having electrical contactwith said conducting means, said .socket members being capable of movement 1n said slots.

3. A cluster comprising a housing having recesses provided with arcuate walls, said housing being provided with slots provid- -lng communication between said recesses and the exterior of said housing, electrical conducting means arranged along said walls,

socket members having electrical contact v with said conducting means, said socket members being capable of movement in said 1aml recesses, electrical conducting means in said recesses and having contacting relationship with said'sockets throughout the range of movement ofv said sockets, and abutment means of electricall conducting material mounted in the axesl of said arcuate walls.

5. A cluster including a two-part housing, switching means mounted in each part of said two-part housing, said switching means having terminals in common, means for connecting said terminal to one side of an electrical circuit, said housing being provided with a plurality of recesses, each having an arcuate wall, electrical conducting means mounted in each of 4said recesses and having electrical connection with the other side4 of said electrical cil cuit, movable sockets having portions mounted in said recesses and having wi ing engagement with said electrical con ucting means, and electrical contact means connected with the other terminals of said switching mechanisms positioned in the axesA of said arcuate walls.

6. A cluster comprising'a housing having two cooperating parts of insulating material, said parts being of the same conformation and adapted to be connected together to form an enclosure, a pair of switching mechanisms carried by said housing, said enclosure having a pluralit of recesses, each having an arcuate wall, e ectrical conducting means arranged along said arcuate walls, socket members of conducting material having portions mounted within said enclosures, said sockets being movable and having rubbing engagement with said electrical conducting means, and contact means connected to terminals of said switching mechanisms itioned in the axes of said arcuate walls.

7. A cluster comprising a housing having a plurality of arcuate walls, a plurality of sockets each ca able of a movement of translation in said ousing, electrical conducting means arranged along said arcuate walls, lsaid sockets having portions in engagement f with said conducting means throughout the range of movement of said sockets, and electrical contact means positioned along the axes of said arcuate walls andy adapted to form abutment means for the lcenter contacts of electric bulbs mounted in said sockets.

8. A cluster having a plurality-of arcuate walls, a lurality of sockets each having portions sli able along said walls, electrical conducting means arranged along said walls for engagement by said sockets, and other electrical contact means ositioned along the axes of movement of sai sockets and ada t- 'ed to form abutments' for electric bulbsll) cated in said sockets.

9. A cluster including electrical contact means having arcuate surfaces, a plurality of sockets each capable of a movement of translation and having ortions adapted to engage said arcuate sur aces, and electrical contact members arranged along the axes of said surfaces andv adapted to form abutments for electric light bulbs mountjed in said sockets.

10. A cluster including electrical contact means having arcuate surfaces, a pluralityof 'sockets each capable of a movement of translation and having ortions adapted to engage said arcuate sur aces, and electrical contact members arranged along the axes ofl said surfacesv and adapted to form abutments for electric light bulbsmounted in said sockets, each of said sockets having a swtchin mechanism connected inv circuit therewit l Y 11. A lamp holding device including electrical contact means having'an arcuate surface, a socket ycapable of a movement of translation and having a portion adapted to engage said arcuate surface, and an electrical contact member arranged along the axis of said arcuate surface.

12. A holding device for electric lights including a housing, an electrical contacty member, a socket carried by said housing, said 'of May, 1925.

DAVID D. GORDON. WILLIAM LINDSAY.

housintg permitting a movement of transla-` sai msv 

